Compressor pulsation dampener



April 10, 1951 D; GIBSON 2,548,472

COMPRESSOR PULSATION DAMPEIIER Filed DeC. 19, 1947 Patented Apr. 10, 1951 S PATENT OFFICE COMPRESSOR PULSATION DAMPENER Harold D. Gibson, New Brighton, N. Y., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 19, 1947, Serial No. 792,749

3'Claims. l The present invention relates to apparatus for controlling the pulsation veffectproduced by reciprocating compressors when handling gaseous fluids or vapors.

Reciprocating compressors are known to pronections and excessive frictional movement ofv parts.

In such service, it is customary to provide pulsation dampeners of various sorts, including the provision of enlarged expansion chambers adjacent the intakes and outlets of the compressors used. By such expedient it is intended to absorb the greater portion of the pulse produced by increase in the volume of the fluid. The effectiveness of such means has primarily depended upon the volume of the vessel or expansion chamber utilized, and both space and Icost of fabrication are limiting factors in such a method.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the effectiveness of such means, further reducing the pulsation eect, without the necessity for substantially increasing the size or volume oi the vessels used. This result is accomplished, according to the present invention, by diffusing the charge to the compressor, or the discharge therefrom, through' a vessel of substantially standard design. Another object of the invention is to strengthen the structural design oi the standard apparatus and thereby increase resistance of the apparatus to mechanical transmission of any remaining vibration which may be produced.

The invention and its objects may be more clearly discerned from the following description, read in conjunction `with the accompanying drawing in which the arrangement and relationship of the several elements are illustrated diagramatically.

In the drawing the numeral l designates each of two reciprocating compressor cylinders connected in parallel to intake line 2 and discharge line 3 through vessels or chambers 4 and 5 respectively. Inlet lines 6 and outlet lines l are shown intermediate the intake and discharge ports of the compressors l. These lines (i and l open into the vessels 4 and 5 through diffuser portions or elements 8 and 9 respectively, which may be separate elements opening outwardly through and secured to the walls of the vessels 4 and 5, and to lines t and l, or which may be f 2 formed by an extension of the lines l5 and 1 through suitable openings in the'vessels l and 5, and secured to the vessel as by welding, or otherwise ras shown. In either event, the outermost ends of the portions `8 and 9 should also besecured to the inner walls of the vessels .4 and 5'. When thus constructed, the diffuser elements 8 and 9 may be utilized also as supports for the other elements Yof the structure. Further, the elements 8 and 9 provide such internal bracing for the expansion vessel as required to provide structural rigidity and resistance to deformation. Also, each of the portions vll and 9 is to be provided with a plurality of diffuser passageways'lll opening into the vessels or chambers. These passageways may be slotted portionsas shown, or circular or other-shaped orifices permitting adequate volume flow of iiuids into and from the compressors as required by their capacity. The slotted portions or orifices l0 should extend from their outermost ends'invvardly toward the compressors to any such distance as may be necessary to provide the required area, needed to supply the volume flow demanded by the compressors dependent upon the Width or diameter and spacing of such passageways. In other words, the nature and total area of the orifices or passageways should be such as to produce the optimum pressure drop required for a maximum dampening effect without excessively restricting the flow required to serve the volumetric capacity of the compressor cylinders. In any event, the passageways in the diffuser elements 8 should terminate in spaced relation to the lower sidewall of the vessel i to provide for accumulation of condensation When operating with gaseous fluids such as air, and prevent such condensation from draining into the compressor cylinders. Drain plugs or petcocks, not shown, should be provided for removing any such accumulations in the vesselsv 4 and 5.

In operation, as previously stated, the inliow and outflow of fluids to and from the compressors are required to pass through the orices or passageways IB in the diffuser elements -8 and 9, thereby breaking up or distributing through la number of comparatively small passageways the` of uid flowing through the equipment and connecting lines.

While the invention has been disclosed and i1- lustrated by a specific application of the concept involved, it is not intended to be limited thereby but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pulsation dampener assembly for handling gaseous fluid materials comprising a walled eX- pansion vessel, a conduit connection opening through one walled portion of said vessel, a diffuser element having an inner end and an outer end, with respect to the expansion vessel, extending through another Wall of said vessel in fluid-tight connection therewith, the inner end of said element terminating in supporting contact with an opposite inner wall portion of said vessel, the outer end terminating and opening outwardly beyond the vessel, and a plurality of diffuser passageways in said element within the vessel partially restricting fluid-flow through said element and vessel.

2. In la iluid flow system, including a. reciproeating compressor, having at least one cylinder with inlet and outlet ports, and inlet and outlet flow lines communicating therewith, a flow pulsation dampener assembly comprising a walled expansion vessel in each of said inlet and outlet now lines adjacent corresponding cylinder inlet and outlet ports, and diffuser elements, having inner and outer ends, secured to said cylinder by their outer ends each communicating with one of said ports, each element extending in fluid-tight relation through one wall portion of an adjacent eX- pansion vessel, the inner ends terminating in rigid supporting contact with an opposite wall portion of said vessel, said inlet and outlet lines communicating with corresponding cylinder ports by Way of said assembly.

3. In a uid ilow system, including a reciprocating compressor, having at least one cylinder and inlet and outlet ports therefor, and inlet and outlet flow lines communicating with said cylinder, a pulsation dampener `assembly comprising an upper enlarged, walled expansion vessel disposed above said compressor adjacent said inlet and outlet ports communicating with one of said now lines, a lower enlarged, walled expansion chamber disposed below said compressor cylinder communicating with another flow line, upper and lower diiuser elements, each having an inner and an outer end, for each inlet and outlet port mounted by their outer ends on said cylinder and communicating with a cylinder port, said elements extending through a wall portion of an adjacent expansion vessel in fluid-tight relation thereto, the inner ends extending into rigid supporting contact with the opposite inner wall portion of said vessel, said upper expansion chamber supported on said cylinder, and said cylinder supported on said lower expansion vessel primarily by means of said diiuser elements.

HAROLD D. GIBSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,134,077 Ehret Oct. 25, 1938 2,255,579 Blanchard Sept. 9, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 499,368 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1939 

